Cost of Living in Stockton, CA
| Cost of Living in Stockton, CA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 32% lower | 33% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 14% higher | 40% higher |
| Food | 7% lower | 7% higher |
| Healthcare | 5% lower | 2% higher |
| Transportation | 6% lower | 22% higher |
| Goods & Services | 2% lower | 8% higher |
The cost of living in Stockton, CA is 14% lower than the state average and 19% higher than the national average. Stockton, CA housing is 33% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 40% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 8% more in Stockton, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 8% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 2% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 8% pricier in Stockton, CA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Stockton is $1,654, while home prices circle around $674,302.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Stockton, energy bills cost around $328.13 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.85 in Stockton, a dozen eggs go for around $4.94 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.32.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Stockton, an optometry check-up costs around $137.96, while a dentist appointment is priced $117.90 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.07 in Stockton, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $74.43.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $34.10 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $33.71.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Stockton, you should budget around $13.61 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $23.67, while dry cleaning costs about $16.41.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Stockton, the median household income is $63,916.